Flu Surveillance – Feb. 27, 2015
DSHS’s latest flu surveillance report classifies the geographic distribution of flu activity in Texas as “regional,” indicating influenza outbreaks or elevated influenza-like-illness in multiple regions of the state. Additionally, the intensity of influenza-like illness, measuring the proportion of doctor visits prompted by flu-like illness, is currently classified as “high.”
DSHS tracks the number of pediatric deaths due to the influenza. This season, 12 Texas children have died from the flu.
DSHS urges everyone six months old and older to get vaccinated against the flu. It is particularly important for pregnant women, young children, older adults and people with chronic health conditions, because people in those groups are at a greater risk of severe complications if they do get the flu.
Latest Available DSHS Weekly Flu Surveillance Report
Historical DSHS Flu Surveillance Reports
TexasFlu.org
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Multi-state Listeria Outbreak – Feb. 2, 2015
Due to a recent California apple recall, consumers should not eat any recalled Granny Smith and Gala apples produced by Bidart Bros., and retailers should not sell or serve them.
Also, consumers should not eat any commercially produced, prepackaged caramel apples. Public health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of listeriosis possibly linked to these products. Listeria can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.
In Texas, there are four associated cases, including two deaths. It is unclear if the listeria infection contributed to the deaths. All cases were hospitalized and had pre-existing conditions. Anyone who believes they may have become ill with listeriosis should contact their health care provider. Symptoms vary but can include fever, muscle aches, headache, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
FDA link to information on the recall: www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm427573.htm#consumers
CDC link to information on the outbreak: www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/caramel-apples-12-14/index.html
General information about Listeria: www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/listeriosis/
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Ebola – Dec. 10, 2014
While the Dallas Ebola event has ended, health officials continue to monitor all travelers who return to Texas from countries with widespread Ebola outbreaks. More than 200 travelers since late October have been monitored for symptoms in Texas.
Texas Guidelines for Returning Travelers
Texas has had three confirmed cases of Ebola. Health officials closely monitored about 340 people who had contact with them to watch for symptoms. The last person was cleared from monitoring Nov. 7. No additional cases were diagnosed.
Please visit www.texasebola.org for more information about Ebola in Texas.
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West Nile in Texas – Dec. 30, 2014
DSHS has confirmed 353 cases of human West Nile illness in Texas this year, including four deaths (Hidalgo, Montgomery, Midland and Tom Green counties).
West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus. There are two forms of the illness, West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) and West Nile fever (WN fever). The symptoms of severe infection from West Nile neuroinvasive disease include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis. West Nile fever is the milder form of the illness. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and occasionally a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph glands.
DSHS reminds Texans to reduce the risk of exposure by eliminating standing water and other mosquito breeding areas; making sure door, porch and window screens are in good condition; and using a repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535 or para-menthane-diol products when outdoors.
| County |
WN Fever |
WNND |
Total Cases |
| Angelina |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| Austin |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Bailey |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Bastrop |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Bexar |
2 |
3 |
5 |
| Brazoria |
4 |
4 |
8 |
| Brazos |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Briscoe |
3 |
1 |
4 |
| Castro |
4 |
1 |
5 |
| Clay |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Collin |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Colorado |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Comal |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Crosby |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Dallas |
8 |
4 |
12 |
| Deaf Smith |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Denton |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| Ector |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| El Paso |
7 |
8 |
15 |
| Ellis |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Erath |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Floyd |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Fort Bend |
2 |
2 |
4 |
| Galveston |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Gray |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Grimes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Hale |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Hall |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Hansford |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Harris |
24 |
89 |
113 |
| Haskell |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Hemphill |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Henderson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Hidalgo |
0 |
4 |
4 |
| Hockley |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Hopkins |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Hutchinson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Jefferson |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Lamb |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Leon |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Liberty |
0 |
5 |
5 |
| Lipscomb |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Lubbock |
3 |
4 |
7 |
| Martin |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| McLennan |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Midland |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Montgomery |
9 |
23 |
32 |
| Moore |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Navarro |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Nueces |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Ochiltree |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Parker |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Parmer |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| Polk |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Potter |
4 |
6 |
10 |
| Randall |
6 |
12 |
18 |
| Runnels |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Smith |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Swisher |
2 |
1 |
3 |
| Tarrant |
7 |
9 |
16 |
| Taylor |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Tom Green |
1 |
3 |
4 |
| Travis |
2 |
4 |
6 |
| Uvalde |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Walker |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Waller |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Wichita |
0 |
3 |
3 |
| Williamson |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Totals |
118
|
235 |
353 |
Human West Nile Cases By County for 2014
Human West Nile Cases By County for 2013
Human West Nile Cases By County for 2012
More West Nile data
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Chikungunya – Dec. 30, 2014
DSHS has confirmed 66 Texas cases of chikungunya, a virus that can cause fever and severe joint pain and is transmitted by mosquitoes. All cases have been imported, meaning that travelers have acquired the illness while visiting areas where the virus is more common. However, those imported cases mean there is a potential for chikungunya to spread in Texas because the Aedes mosquitoes that transmit it are present in the state.
Cases have been confirmed in Bexar (5), Brazoria (2), Collin (3), Comal, Dallas (9), Denton (7), El Paso (2), Fort Bend, Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harris (9), Hays (2), Hidalgo, Midland, Montgomery (2), Orange, Tarrant (7), Travis (8), Williamson and Wise counties.
First Case News Release: Texas Confirms State’s First Chikungunya Case
Additional Background: Chikungunya at CDC
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